Two Italians arrested at Barcelona airport over violent theft of €50,000 watch from tourist in Palma
The National Police have arrested two men of Italian origin at Barcelona airport accused of snatching a watch valued at €50,000 from a tourist in the Molinar district of Palma.
Two Italians arrested at Barcelona airport over violent theft of €50,000 watch from tourist in Palma
The National Police have arrested two individuals of Italian origin at Barcelona airport as alleged perpetrators of the violent theft of a watch valued at €50,000. The incident took place at approximately 15:00 on Sunday in the Molinar neighbourhood of Palma de Mallorca.
According to authorities in a statement, a tourist was dining at a restaurant in the area and, upon heading to his vehicle, was approached from behind by a young man who wrenched the watch from his wrist. The thief ran off and boarded a motorcycle on which a second accomplice was waiting; both fled the scene.
The National Police Robbery Group launched an investigation with the collaboration of a liaison officer from the Polizia di Stato based in Madrid, given that the suspects are of Italian nationality. Following various lines of enquiry, officers established that the thieves had hired the motorbike used in the escape using forged documentation. They located the vehicle, inspected it, and returned it to the rental company.
Investigators identified the two alleged perpetrators and discovered that they had boarded a flight bound for Barcelona. They then requested the collaboration of the National Police Judicial Police at El Prat airport, where the arrest took place. The investigation remains open and further arrests have not been ruled out.
High-end watch thefts on the islands are committed primarily by specialised criminal gangs of Neapolitan or North African origin that have been operating in the archipelago for years. These are organised groups with a clear division of labour and established hierarchies. These organisations remain in their area of operation for only a brief period—two or three days—and leave the country as soon as they commit the robberies.
Their method consists of watching and following victims, generally in busy areas near luxury establishments. They look for a suitable location to use violence against the target, sometimes throwing them to the ground or assaulting them. The escape is carried out with the help of a motorcycle rider who travels at high speed, putting both traffic and pedestrians at risk; sometimes they use a car to cover them or as a means of transport.
They also use forged identity documents to register at hotels or hire vehicles that they use to escape the crime scene, leaving the country almost immediately after committing the crime. Various police operations have culminated in the arrest of numerous members of these groups, who have been remanded in custody.
Source: Majorca Daily Bulletin
Source: Majorca Daily Bulletin